Julia Reich

Mr. Ippolito

AP Biology C Even 

11/30/20

Lambert, Jonathan. “These Plants Seem Like They're Trying to Hide from People.” Science 

News, 20 Nov. 2020, www.sciencenews.org/article/plant-camouflage-people-china-traditional-medicine-fritillaria. 

Jonathan Lambert’s article “These Plants Seem Like They’re Trying to Hide from People” covers the recently evolutionized Fritillaria and its impact on humans and herbivores. The usually bright green plant -- which grows on the tops of Himalayan and Hengduan mountains in southwestern China -- has been grounded into a cough-treating powder for over two-thousand years. The demand for the Fritillaria bulbs is intense; approximately 3,500 of the bulbs are needed to produce just one kilogram of the powder (about $480). Researchers have recently reported, however, that the plant is becoming “remarkably difficult to find.” Its stems and leaves are becoming barely distinguishable from the gray/brown rocky mountains. And it seems, according to Yang Niu, a botanist at the Kunming Institute of Botany in China, that this plant camouflage has evolved in response to humans. Researchers from Current Biology also reported that “Fritillaria delavayi from regions that experience greater harvesting pressure are more camouflaged than those from less harvested areas.” This is significant as the more highly sought areas of harvesting is directly causing the camouflage, proving Niu’s hypothesis that the evolution is due to human activity. Following several hypotheses regarding the evolution of Fritillaria, Yang Niu, his colleague Hang Sun, and Martin Stevens of the University of Exeter in England, tested whether or not humans were driving the evolution of the plants’ camouflage.  They found that at the seven study sites they focused on, “The more harvested, or harvestable, a site, the better the color of a plant matched its background, as measured by a spectrometer. ‘The degree of correlation was really, really convincing for both metrics we used,’ Stevens says.” 

Niu, Sun, and Stevens’ findings are relevant to our society today as the camouflage of certain plants, such as Fritillaria, could lead to a decrease in certain medicines, such as cough-treating powders. Camouflage also has negative effects on the plant, including not being able to be seen by pollinators. As well, the plants that have evolved to protect themselves from herbivores do not seem to be working well. It seems that animals have been biting the plant’s leaves but not consuming it. As well, the gray/brown coloration could impair photosynthetic activity, which would ultimately lead to a decrease in plants and medicines.

Jonathan Lambert’s article was concise and interesting to read. One aspect he did very well was utilizing simple terms so that the average reader could understand the complex ideas throughout the article. One aspect he could improve on is potentially including a personal opinion. He could add his thoughts on what he believes this human driven evolution will cause in the future. As well, he could have included more quotes from the experts on the Fritillaria camouflage and experts on human driven evolution. This would have been very interesting to read and would help his audience understand why the topic is significant. Overall, the article was well done and I recommend any person at Bronxville to read into the subject. 

Measles Has Come Back with a Vengeance in the Last Several Years

 Caroline Hulbert   11.17.20

AP Bio C Even   Current Event 7

Cunningham, Aimee. “Measles Has Come Back with a Vengeance in the Last Several Years.” Science News, 14 Nov. 2020, www.sciencenews.org/article/measles-cases-deaths-numbers-increase-2019-outbreaks-covid. 

For this current event, I decided to review the article “Measles Has Come Back with a Vengeance in the Last Several Years,” by Aimee Cunningham. The author begins the article with statistics about the measles, stating that from 2000 to 2016, the number of reported measles cases worldwide dropped from 853,479 to 132,490, however cases began to rise again after that. In 2019, 869,770 people had the measles, and around 207,500 people died from it. Cunningham cites an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, who states that we have had a safe and effective vaccine for the measles since the early 1960s, making this setback highly upsetting. She also says that in order to prevent outbreaks 95% of a community must be vaccinated with both doses of the vaccine. However, only around 84% of people globally have received the first dose. There are nine countries--Central African Republic, Congo, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, North Macedonia, Samoa, Tonga and Ukraine--where outbreaks of measles have been especially prevalent, making up 73% of the reported cases in 2019. This is due to low vaccination coverage, as well as a lack of confidence in the vaccines, leading to lower vaccination rates. Cunningham also states that the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has had a negative impact on infection rates of measles. The economic hardship brought on by the pandemic has increased malnutrition, which increases the severity of the disease. Cunningham concludes the article by describing a new method of vaccination that is in the works. Single-dose adhesive-backed patches could release an array of needles coated with the vaccine to dissolve in the skin. Because these patches would not require the same cold temperature needed for the current measles vaccine, vaccinations would be more accessible and easier to administer. It will take a few years, but these patches would increase vaccine coverage and reduce outbreaks.

This article is very relevant to society today as measles outbreaks increase, either by lack of vaccine coverage or by distrust of the vaccine. Especially with the current coronavirus outbreak, it is now more important than ever to prevent other deadly disease outbreaks, which would be worsened by both the physiological and economic impacts of COVID-19. It is also important for the effectiveness of the vaccine to be expressed toward people in other countries, as well as parts of the US, who do not believe in vaccinations. Their unbacked distrust for the vaccine has deadly consequences for communities.

This article was very well-written and informative about current issues. The author included insights from numerous medical experts in different fields and locations about the rise in measles cases around the world. She also includes a new type of vaccination that may become available in a few years. It would have been helpful for the author to include information about why measles cases are rising. She stated the factors that would lead to an increase in cases, but did not describe why case numbers went down significantly before their sharp increase in 2016. Cunningham began the article with statistics about incidences of the measles. I think that if she had opened her article with something more personal to readers, like a specific story or information about measles cases in the US, it would have made it more personal to readers and helped them fully understand the severity of the situation.

Annabelle Krause - We Still Don't Know What COVID-19 Immunity Means or How Long It Lasts

 Annabelle Krause

AP Bio

11/17/2020

de Jesus, Erin Garcia. “We Still Don't Know What COVID-19 Immunity Means or How Long It Lasts.” Science News, 21 Oct. 2020, www.sciencenews.org/article/coronavirus-herd-immunity-immune-response-antibodies. 

Some politicians and a few epidemiologists have suggested that herd immunity, or a significant enough portion of the low-risk population getting infected and having immunity, is the proper way to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.  However, “around 40 to 60 percent of a population would need to be infected to reach [the point of herd immunity].”  This begs the question, is it worth it to put that significant of a percentage of the low-risk community at risk of COVID-19 complications to reach herd immunity?  Many epidemiologists have argued that, no, it is not worth it and that we must wait for a vaccine before life can go back to normal.  One key reason as to why herd immunity is almost impossible to attain is that we know very little about COVID-19 immunity.  Immunity is “resistance to a disease gained through the immune system’s exposure to it, either by infection or through vaccination.”  And it is attained by having a virus and either having T cells or B cells or possibly both.  T cells are cells that remember the pathogen and trigger a rapid response through the coordination of the immune system to a known pathogen.  B cells produce antibodies which are proteins that allow the body to fight off a pathogen.  When a person recovers from an infection, the antibodies stick around which makes it easier for a person to beat the same virus twice.  These cell responses can result in two different types of immunity: sterilizing immunity, which is rare and guarantees that “the virus never gets a chance to begin replicating and never infects a cell” or the more common partial immunity which triggers a “rapid response that may make the second bout of the disease less severe, or less easily transmitted.”  And, even if a patient does have antibodies, it is unclear how long they last or if they are truly a sign of immunity.  Patients generally have been observed to have been generating neutralizing antibodies, which is promising, but it is still not necessarily enough for protection.  COVID-19 patients also are likely to have T cells which may give them immunity.  But, it is unclear how effective and protective these T cells are.  Some of the general population may also have applicable T cells, called cross-reactive T cells, which are immune cells left over from previous coronaviruses (like the common cold) that help reduce the impact of COVID-19.  But, some T cells could make a person’s reaction to COVID-19 worse by causing a condition called cytokine storm which overstimulates the immune system.  Overall, herd immunity is likely impossible, and the best approach to combatting COVID-19 is waiting for a vaccine and vaccinating a significant percentage of the population.

This article is extremely relevant right now, although it is less relevant than it was a week ago.  Many politicians have asserted that herd immunity would be an effective solution to COVID-19 and allow the United States to reopen its economy fully.  However, the science described in this article has disproved that assertion.  With the development of a promising vaccine, this article is less relevant because an end is (hopefully) on the horizon.  But, it is still important for people to keep in mind that getting COVID-19 does not mean that they are immune and that they should not try and get COVID-19 for that purpose.  It is also a reminder that this pandemic is extremely unknown overall and that even the scientists know very little.

This article was quite easy to understand and succinct in explaining the science.  I appreciated that they explained complicated concepts around immunity in simple terms that made it possible for this very important issue to be generally understood.  I personally would have appreciated if the author had given more of their own opinion and chosen a side more rather than going back on forth on the issue.  I understand that there really is no answer, and as such it is difficult for the author to back one side, but it would have been more clear and had a stronger message if the author had done that.  It also would have been interesting if the author had spent some time considering the political implications of the herd immunity versus vaccine debate instead of presenting only the science.

"Moderna says its COVID-19 vaccine is nearly 95 percent effective | Science News." - Casey McKhann

 Casey McKhann

Mr. Ippolito 

November 10th, 2020

AP Biology/ Current Event 6 

Garcia De Jesus, Erin . "Moderna says its COVID-19 vaccine is nearly 95 percent effective | Science News." Science News, 16 Nov. 2020, https://www.sciencenews.org/article/moderna-vaccine-covid19-coronavirus-early-results.

 

The large news which came out early last week was the development of a 90% successful COVID-19 vaccine by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer. Now, another company is coming out with a vaccine which is supposed to be even more effective then the Pfizer vaccine. This company is Moderna. The Moderna vaccine is in its 3rd phase of clinical testing and is proving to have 95% effectiveness. While numbers are yet to be peer reviewed by other scientists, it is promising that the company is having a lot of success with the vaccine. However, there are still lots of questions left unanswered. For example, researchers at Moderna still do not know how the vaccine varies based on the age and race of the recipient. They also do not know if the vaccine makes the carrier of COVID-19 unable to spread the disease once they have been vaccinated. These are all questions which the company hopes to answer in the coming months. The Moderna Vaccine does have benefits over the Pfizer vaccine. The Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored at -70 degrees celsius, this could pose a large problem when trying to distribute the vaccine. The Moderna vaccine solves this issue as it only needs to be stored at 5 degrees celsius. 

This article is more relevant now than ever. COVID cases continue to surge across America as another wave of the virus hits the nation. It is evident that many areas of the country will have to shut down again. A vaccine seems like a very reasonable solution to help solve this issue. The vaccines talked about in the article are the most likely long term solutions to the pandemic. It is crucial that individuals read articles like this one to inform themselves that there is hope for the future that COVID will be a thing of the past. For now, it is important for each individual to stay updated on the pandemic and the advancement of vaccines. 

The article by Erin Garcia de Jesus was written very well. The author did a very good job comparing the vaccines. This allows the reader to create their own decision on which vaccine is more beneficial going forward. The author also did a good job describing the clinical testing phase of the vaccine production. I think the article could have done a better job explaining the earlier stages of the vaccine testing and how long the public should expect until a widespread vaccine is distributed. These would both enable the reader to have a better feeling leaving the article. Overall, I think the article was written very well and described a crucial piece of news. 

 Nate Kim

AP Bio, Mr. Ippolito 

11/13/20

Current Event 7

O’Neill, N. (2020, November 13). Scientist behind Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine makes bold claim: It can stop pandemic. New York Post. Retrieved from https://nypost.com/2020/11/13/man-behind-covid-19-vaccine-says-it-will-bash-the-virus-over-head/

Uğur Şahin, the CEO of BioNTech, has announced that a breakthrough COVID-19 vaccine will end the pandemic. In collaboration with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, BioNTech has created a vaccine that they report is 90 percent effective. The vaccine is so effective because it attacks the virus on multiple levels. First, the vaccine hinders COVID-19 from getting into our cells in the first place. If somehow the virus does get into our cells, T-cells (a type of white blood cell) are on standby to eliminate it. Sahin is confident in the fact that the virus “can’t defend itself against these mechanisms.” The virus was 90 percent effective at stopping people from showing COVID-19 symptoms in phase three trials. The product is not yet ready to be distributed to the public. In a closing statement, Sahin firmly stated that he believes his vaccine will be able to stop the virus and end the pandemic.

The arrival of a vaccine is something that the world community has been awaiting for a considerable amount of time. COVID-19 has completely altered the way society functions and social norms. For many, a vaccine and herd immunity signals a return to the way things were before. In the US right now, and in many countries worldwide, COVID-19 cases are starting to spike again. A vaccine of 90 percent effectiveness could make this possible. 90 percent, in the first place, is extremely high. For reference, the flu vaccine, which does a phenomenal job of stopping the spread of the flu virus, is 40-60 percent effective. Let that sink in. The Pfizer/ BioNTech vaccine is upwards of two times as effective as the flu vaccine, if they are reporting the truth. If the vaccine really has an effectiveness of this level, it’s almost surefire that COVID-19 is going to be eradicated.

This article does a great job of explaining what has happened and giving the straight facts to the public. The article is not extremely lengthy and it gives the facts in a straightforward manner. On the other hand, the article lacks skepticism. The article doesn’t remind the public to wait for further evidence and research. It speaks as if the vaccine is definitely exactly as reported. For a news article, that is preemptive. At this point, we only know what Pfizer and BioNTech have told us. It would be foolish to assume that the vaccine is exactly as advertised, until we are given new evidence. Also, the article does not provide any context of how effective “90 percent is.” In order to determine whether 90 percent was good or not, I needed to do additional research. Overall, this was a strong article in the facts regard, but it could have been better when talking about the validity of what was claimed by Pfizer and BioNTech.

Melissa Marchetti

AP Bio/Mr Ippolito

Current Event

11/10/20

Saey, Tina Hesman. “Some Neandertal Genes May up the Risk of Severe COVID-19.” Science News for Students, 14 Oct. 2020, www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/covid-19-coronavirus-neandertal-genes-increase-risk-severe-infection. 

For this week's current event review, I chose to read “Some Neandertal Genes May up the Risk of Severe COVID-19” by Tina Hesman Saey. In her article, Saey describes a recent connection made between neandertal DNA and COVID-19 cases. She first describes the discovery of the link; she notes that scientists recognized a pattern in the chromosomes among severely ill covid patients. Specifically, she describes a stretched 3rd chromosome, a common DNA trait once present in our extinct and distant relatives, the Neandertals. She states that “about half of all people whose ancestors come from South Asia — especially from Bangladesh — carry this bit of Neandertal legacy, this new study notes. So do about 16 percent (not quite one in every six people) in Europe today”(Saey). Dropping those frightening and still ambiguous statistics, Saey also reminds her readers that having a stretch in the 3rd chromosome does not mean covid will kill you if caught. She recognizes that this data is fairly new, and also acknowledges other leading factors in being affected by covid such as age and physical fitness.

Given that we are still in the midst of a pandemic, I’d say Saey’s content is extremely relevant. While many might want to hear other or different news about the virus, new discoveries are being made about covid every day and deserve coverage. While this information is not as groundbreaking as a cure or vaccine, it is still important as we are becoming more familiar with the virus.

In general, I found this article to be very interesting. I appreciated the author's careful explanation of scientific language as it made reading more enjoyable. Additionally, I was impressed by her use of factual evidence to back her claims. However, I worry that this article may trigger paranoia and fear among southern Asians and select Europeans. Although she mentioned she did not intend for anyone to panic over this information, I would advise her to be more careful in writing about such a relevant and current issue.

Hen Island: A Health Crisis Only 20 Minutes From Bronxville

 Hugh Duffy

Mr. Ippolito

AP Biology C Even

11/8/2020

Kelly, Caitlin. “An Island, Untamed and Divided.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 3 

Aug. 2008, www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/03henwe.html. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/03henwe.html

Before starting this current event, a contextual point must be made to maintain the integrity of this story. To begin, this article was written twelve years ago in 2008, however this does not take away from the credibility of its information. Additionally, the topic of which it addresses, the health crisis on Hen Island, is still running rampant today, completely disregarded by the City of Rye. Yes, the City of Rye in Westchester, only twenty minutes away. 

“Hen Island” is a small islet found just ten minutes off the shoreline of Rye, New York. As of now, none of the island’s residents live there year-round, and only use the land for vacationing. For years, the City of Rye has disputed the fact that the island lies within their cities boundaries, claiming that it falls under the jurisdiction of New York State in order to avoid hearing further issues regarding the severe health crisis that faces the island. To this day, Rye’s City Council has disregarded litigation against them, making Hen Island a more than current event. So what is the issue on Hen Island? Why is it regarded by many as a health crisis? 

In 2007, environmental inspectors described the island as “hellish”, with its extreme infestation of mosquitoes, alleging further that the island’s residents were poisoning the waters of the Long Island Sound. Ray Tartaglione, a former resident of Hen Island, brought the issues to light in the early 2000’s. He spoke with the Rye City Council, exposing the residents for having used horse troths to collect rainwater for plumbing and drinking purposes. Standing water is what mosquitoes lay their eggs in, making the island a breeding ground. Hen Island had no city water, gas, or electrical lines supplying the residents with modern plumbing or power. Tartaglione described the island as a “museum of 18th century technology.” When health inspectors first arrived on the island in 2013, they were immediately swarmed by mosquitos, claiming they covered their arms, legs, and eventually flew in their noses. Additionally, health inspectors revealed that residents of the island were dumping their sewage directly into the Long Island Sound, only a mile away from the edge of Rye Beach. Mosquitoes can fly up to twenty-five miles a day, and Hen Island was fueling a large spike in the mosquito population of Westchester. Over 15,000 inhabitants of Rye and its surrounding area are exposed to this increase in mosquito breeding, and this issue becomes even more scary in 2014. After reporting the mosquito infestation to health officials, it was tested and revealed that fifteen mosquitoes on Hen Island tested positive for the West Nile Virus. The West Nile virus, is a disease that, similar to COVID-19, is largely harmless to most infected individuals. However in 5% of cases, the virus can cause what is known as west nile fever, which can lead to encephalitis and meningitis, making it highly fatal. It is clear that the thirty-three residents of Hen Island show no compassion nor respect for the people of Rye, and have no plans to modernize their sewage and water collection systems. In the summer of 2017, reports of chickenpox rose drastically within Rye and its surrounding towns, however this spike was eventually credited to mosquitoes. Parents had been calling their doctors claiming their children had chickenpox, when in reality, the children were covered head to toe in mosquito bites. Of these cases, three children were exposed to west nile virus. The City of Rye has yet to enforce change on Hen Island, continuing to claim lack of jurisdiction despite New York courts identifying Hen Island as being within the city's boundaries. 

This article was written well, however I didn’t find it attacked the true issues of Hen Island properly. Of course, the article is technically outdated, but the story itself has been brushed under the rug by Rye’s City Council for years, making it hard to find new information on the topic. Overall, If I had written this article, I would have researched the possibility of a west nile virus resurgence as a result of the island’s poor maintenance, as I had to find other articles which described the issue in full. 

Global-scale animal ecology reveals behavioral changes in response to climate change

 Erin Foley

AP Bio C Block Odd

Nov. 5th, 2020

Current Event #6

“Global-Scale Animal Ecology Reveals Behavioral Changes in Response to Climate Change.” 

University of Maryland, ScienceDaily, 5 Nov. 2020, 

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201105183834.html. 

As of November 5th, scientists have made discoveries concerning patterns and associations between climate change and the behavior of several species, mainly, caribou. An international team including researchers at University of Maryland have been keeping a database of animal movement across the global Arctic and sub-Arctic region, an area that has been experiencing drastic changes to its climate. The archive of movements allowed the researchers to conduct three case studies tracking 8,000 animals across 29 years, making this study one of the largest global ecology studies to date. Researchers found that caribou who make long-distance migrations are giving birth earlier in the spring - roughly tracking rates of warming. On the other hand, of the caribou that do not make long-distance migrations, only the northern sub-populations show similar changes. These different results are confusing to researchers, but beginning to understand them will be crucial to understanding how animals will respond to climate change in the Arctic, especially as Arctic animal populations are starting to decline. Elie Gurarie, an associate researcher in UMD’s Department of Biology, says that "It's tricky to predict how these trends might impact populations... it can be better to give birth earlier, as it gives the calves more opportunity to grow during the summer season. On the other hand, giving birth too early may mean you literally don't have time to reach the optimal calving grounds.” Regardless of whether this behavioral change will help caribou adapt or decrease their evolutionary advantages, the fact that a global movement ecology study was able to be done on this massive scale will help greatly researchers understand the correlation between behaviors and climate change. "This work has given us a baseline to understand the large-scale picture so we can get a sense of how animals and environments are really interacting across species and across space as the environment changes,” according to Gurarie.

This study has major implications on society, especially as climate change begins to amp up in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. According to the Marine Mammal Commission, “The Arctic is warming at a rate almost twice the global average and reductions in Arctic sea-ice and permafrost and changes in weather are increasingly visible”. The effect this has had on arctic populations is devastating. Declining populations of polar bears, moose, caribou, golden eagles and more will have serious consequences for biodiversity and on the global biome. Thus, understanding how animals have begun to adapt to a changing climate is essential, and this study is one of the first where data can span so many species, and across so many years. If caribou are beginning to breed earlier in the spring for some reason connected to the climate, their calves could be at an advantage, as it’s easier for them to find food in the summer. However, if climate change continues, and caribou begin to breed earlier and earlier, they will not be able to finish their migration to  its traditional calving grounds, and their population will greatly decline. Although this change in behavior may sound minuscule and inconsequential, it will prove whether animals will be able to adapt to climate change, or merely go extinct as our planet warms. And this is not only happening to caribou - several different species are experiencing behavioral changes with respect to climate change, and if we don’t begin to understand them soon, we will experience a loss of biodiversity comparable to that of the ice age.

I believe that this article was very informative, and made its significance clear, but there was some substance lost in how many questions were left unanswered. From the beginning, the author related the study to climate change, which tends to quickly draw readers in, as it is a prevalent and important issue. Because of this hook, readers are much more likely to actually care about the behavioral changes in caribou, which otherwise seem obscure and insignificant. Moreover, the authors clearly explained their method of study - the archive of movements - and described its significance, as global studies are much more informative and more commonly used these days, which has allowed researchers to make broader conclusions. Finally, the authors used a number of direct primary sources, including interviews from some of the researchers from the study, giving the reader a sense of security when accepting the articles’ conclusions to be true. However, many questions were left unanswered in this article, specifically, why climate change was forcing caribou to breed earlier. Obviously, this remains a mystery to the researchers themselves, but at least mentioning a few theories would have improved and clarified the author’s argument. Although corroborating theories would have strengthened this article, I did feel that it was greatly impactful, as the effects of climate change on behavioral ecology can be viewed across extremely large populations.

The First Black Hole Image Helped Test General Relativity in a New Way

 Holden D’Avico

Mr. Ippolito

AP Bio/Current Event #6

11/9/20

Grossman, Lisa. “The First Black Hole Image Helped Test General Relativity in a New Way.” Science News, 1 Oct. 2020, www.sciencenews.org/article/event-horizon-telescope-black-hole-image-einstein-general-relativity.  

For my current review, I chose to analyze “The first black hole image helped test general relativity in a new way,” an article about the theory of relativity and how it relates to our current understanding of black holes and the universe. The author starts by providing a loose description of the theory of relativity and then writes about how Einstein's theory confirms the size of the most recent black hole that was pictured in a distant galaxy. However, the author then introduces a very difficult question: she says, “how much can I tweak general relativity, and still be consistent with the [black hole] measurement,” (Grossman). She introduces this question to help the reader understand that there could be a different theory that is just as good, if not better at describing our universe than Einstein's theory of relativity. The rest of the article describes the findings of a group called the “Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration.” The groups conducted a second order test of general relativity in order to rule out other theories of our universe. The group’s findings confirmed Einstein’s predictions and theory. The author then goes on to explain the importance of the second order test as she says, “general relativity has passed every time. But it takes a strong gravitational field, like the one around M87’s black hole, to kick the tests up a notch,” (Grossman). A first order test can be used in our solar system, however, due to the weak gravitational field, in order to perform a second order test, research has to be conducted on a system with a much stronger gravitational field. The second order tests allow scientists to be more confident in their findings based on the theory of relativity. Lastly, the author describes how scientists are constantly trying to find ways to disprove Einstein's theory but it seems as if the theory is full-proof. Einstein’s theory failing would be a huge advancement because it would allow for the confirmation of a new theory or understanding of our universe completely different from our understanding of the universe right now. 

I chose this article because the topic of understanding our universe is very intriguing and also very important. Our understanding of everyday objects and relationships are all based on our own experiences. What I mean by this is that it is impossible to comprehend or imagine something that lies outside of our world: everything we know and understand is either something we have already experienced or seen. For example, it is impossible to imagine a color that hasn’t been discovered yet. This is why blackholes, the universe, and the theory of general relativity is so important. If the theory of relativity is confirmed by researchers such as the ones presented in this article, our understanding of the universe will be confirmed. However, if further research disproves Einstein’s theory, then our understanding of the universe has to be completely altered. The implications of the topics described in this article are of extreme importance because they may change the world and our understanding of it as we know it.

The article I read by Lisa Grossman was very well written. I appreciated the flow and organization of the article as it allowed me to easily follow a very complex topic. The author introduced the theory of relativity, then proceeded to describe its relation to the new photo that was taken of a massive blackhole, and lastly described its importance in comprehending our universe. A suggestion I have for the author is to elaborate more on first-order and second-order tests. The author could have described these complex tests more in depth so the reader could better recognize their significance in proving the theory of relativity. Another suggestion I have for the author is to conclude the article by describing the next step in proving Einstein’s theory. The article abruptly ended with little description of the plan going forward so it would’ve been much more interesting if the author explained what the next step was for the research groups in order to either prove or disprove the theory using blackholes and other objects in the cosmos.

Could Scientists Bring Dinosaurs Back to Life?

 Angelinna Faisca 11/1/20

Current Event #5

AP Bio E/F Even

Mr. Ippolito

Osterloff, Emily. “Could Scientists Bring Dinosaurs Back to Life?” Natural History Museum, www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/could-scientists-bring-dinosaurs-back.html. 

In this article, “Could Scientists Bring Dinosaurs Back to Life?” By Emily Osterloff talked mainly about the differences between real life and Jurassic Park, a beloved movie by most children. In this article, she goes over the reality of dinosaurs and how they are depicted in Jurassic Park. First, amber is talked about. In the movie, the main reason dinosaurs were created was because of the DNA. However, Osterloff clears this by saying that the amber that does preserve most of the body of small insects, but not blood, meaning that DNA is lost by the millions of years until it is discovered, rendering it useless. She mentions that there was a mosquito that had been found with hemoglobin, which is mainly used for proteins, except that the mosquito was not found in amber.

In the next segment, crossing DNA was talked about. In the movie, they filled gaps in dinosaur DNA with frog DNA, she claims that this was not accurate enough, and that if we were to do this in real life, you would ideally choose crocodile DNA, since they share a common ancestor.

Next, the question was asked, could we actually clone a dinosaur?  Well, no, mainly we could reverse create the dinosaur, but you would not have a dinosaur. This is called reverse-engineering, a scientist named Susie Maidment, a dinosaur researcher, explained it this way, “'You could take a chicken and genetically engineer it so it has teeth or a long tail. But even if you do, it's not a dinosaur, because it was reverse engineered.'” The article takes a more positive turn, in showing that we could potentially bring back extinct animals that were taken from their habitat too early, such as the Dodo, who became extinct in 1681, after they were eaten and captured to its extinction.

Finally, the article ends with the reality of not being fully able to recreate Jurassic Park, but maybe allowing extinct species to make a comeback.

This article and its findings could have a major impact on the world as we know it, including the possibility of bringing the Wooly Mammoth back, which goes all the way back to the well known ice age, yes, the one in the movie Ice Age. Also bringing back species that could bring a positive impact, such as the Passenger Pigeon, which was brought to extinction in the 20th century due to extensive hunting, and along with  the Dodo bird, which was brought to extinction before scientists could ever see its effects that it could have had on humans, such as disease or its medical potential, such as some spiders have. This article also debunks some of the dramatic themes in Jurassic Park, such as recreating dinosaurs purely from blood found in a mosquito, which was debunked, since over millions of years, DNA unravels and breaks down easily due to outside temperatures and moisture, due to water. So this article shows how recreating a dinosaur may not be the most realistic option there is, but bringing back extinct animal species that are crucial to its past environment, might be a step into getting the world back into its best possible shape.

Some improvements I might add are the complex parts of recreating an animal, like what might work in DNA, and what are the requirements for a certain animal species for it to possibly work the best compared to other animals. I would also add more perspectives from other scientists from other fields of work that could have a different perspective on what to do with certain species, such as marine animals, or maine dinosaur species. I did like how the article did have certain segments that were easy to follow, and easy vocabulary as well, so it was easy to understand and to see the point. The pictures and comparisons were good as well, including the mention of extinct species that could possibly come back with DNA that animals that are alive currently, have now, giving a positive shift to reality.

Maya Brinster

“Molecular Switch for Repairing Central Nervous System Disorders.” ScienceDaily, 

ScienceDaily, 10 Jan. 2020, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/01/200110111531.ht

For current event #5, I read the article “Molecular switch for repairing central nervous system disorders.” It describes an exciting study conducted by Mayo Clinic researchers that found a new strategy for treating central nervous system disorders. Many of these disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, and schizophrenia, are caused by the injury of myelin. Myelin acts as an insulator around nerves, protecting electrical signals that flow through the nervous system. It is extremely important for the nervous system to function properly, and Myelin deterioration can lead to loss of sensory and motor function. The PAR1 receptor will block myelin production and lead to this deterioration. A certain protein in blood that helps with healing, called thrombin, will trigger that receptor and subsequently block the production of myelin. Blocking the PAR1 receptor will lead to the regeneration of myelin. By testing two mice, both of which suffered from disorders caused by myelin deterioration, researchers at the Mayo Clinic discovered a way to genetically block PAR1 and also found that a certain drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration was able to improve myelin production and inhibit PAR1 in cell samples as well. Although this drug proved to be successful in isolated cells, scientists are unsure of the effects on animals, and therefore do not recommend that patients take the drug until further research is conducted. Dr. Scarisbrick, a researcher at the Mayo Clinic, explains, “We have not used the drug in animals yet, and it is not ready to put in patients for the purpose of myelin repair.”

Although this inhibitor is not ready for human consumption, it is still an incredible step forwards in the medical field and has the potential to reverse the effects of these devastating diseases. This article has made me much more optimistic about the future of these diseases, and hopefully, years from now, they won’t be as prominent of issues as they are now. 

The authors of this article did a great job explaining both the causes and effects of myelin deterioration, as well as the significance of the PAR1 receptor. This background information that they thoroughly explained is vital in the understanding of the article as a whole. However, the authors were rather unclear about the specific findings of the researchers. They stated that researchers found a way to genetically block PAR1, but never elaborated on this point. Instead, they switched to an entirely different PAR1 inhibitor drug that could also lead to myelin regeneration. This was pretty confusing, and I wish I could’ve read more about how they genetically blocked the PAR1 and whether it can possibly be used in humans, not just mice. In the future, it would be helpful for the authors to elaborate on all information they explained instead of simply stating a finding and moving on. Overall, however, this was a very interesting article and I’m glad that I chose to read it.

First 'Murder Hornet' Nest in U.S. Destroyed, Washington State Officials Say.

 

Helsel, Phil. First 'Murder Hornet' Nest in U.S. Destroyed, Washington State Officials Say. 27 Oct. 2020, www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/first-murder-hornet-nest-u-s-destroyed-washington-state-officials-n1244867.

On October 22, scientists discovered the first live nest of Asian giant hornets, also known as murder hornets, in the United States. Though they commonly live in underground nests, these murder hornets were found in a tree in Blaine, Washington. Because there had already been reports of murder hornets in the area earlier in the year, the Washington State Department of Agriculture set up traps in hopes to catch these deadly creatures. Last week, entomologists attached radio trackers to three captured hornets, which inevitably led them to the nest through close observation. Once the nest was located, all measures were taken to dispose of the hive efficiently and effectively. The Washington State Department did this by gathering protective suits and created a complicated method to isolate the hive. Sven Spichiger, the managing entomologist for the Washington State Department of Agriculture, said, “we wanted to make sure that we took the nest out as quickly as we possibly could to avoid any queens escaping." To do this, the group of workers used foam to seal crevices in the hive, wrapped the whole tree in cellophane, and continued to use a vacuum hose to suck out the hornets. The remains were exposed to large amounts of carbon dioxide to kill any living creatures, allowing a further examination of the tree and the specifics of the hive. In a broader lens, the eradication of all giant hornets could take years. But to speed up the process, the collected specimens will be used in research, including the observation of live nests to determine what attracts the hornets. The other specimens will be flash-frozen and sent to other researchers and universities for studying.

Murder hornets are extremely dangerous to the honeybee population. In fact, these giant hornets can kill an entire colony of honeybees in a matter of hours. Therefore, an increased population of murder hornets puts the population of honeybees at major risks, which would change the functionality of the surrounding environment. Honeybees pollinate plants, which helps them grow, breed, and produce food. Without honeybees, the other animals in the ecosystem would suffer because of the effects on plants. This is the primary reason behind the urgency of the entomologists’ removal of the hornets. If not contained, the hornets will reproduce and eventually spread, putting ecosystems at risk around the country. 

This article was short but mentioned all of the necessary information about the procedures for getting rid of the murder hornets. The in-depth description of the radical removal process emphasized its importance. The author also did a great job of mentioning how serious these murder hornets could be to the honeybee population in the United States. However, it would have been beneficial for the author to talk about the detailed aspects of the hornets, specifically through quantitative data and analysis. The author could have found more information about how many hornets there were, how large the hive was, and what the specialized scientists believe is the next step for the area. This would have added to the implications of the hornets’ presence in the United States, making the article’s relevance more significant to the reader. 

Posted for A. Wetty